Positioning tool



lJuly 4, 1933. H. w. KuLP ET AL POSITIONING TOOL Filed NOV. 23, 1929 engine block,

Vdust and dirt.

Patented July el, 1933 NETE@ STATES ienne @Perser serios ,lipplica-tien` filed November 23,

This invention relates to onediand plier type tools primarily intended tor use in inserting and properly positioning the removable locking means cooperating ywith the lower end portions respectively of the respec tive valvc-stems to limit the downward movement of the respective spring retainers or cups or washers in conne tion with the operationsnecessary to .the grinding or replacen ment of poppet-valves in internal combustion engines, particularly internal combustion engines as mounted in automobiles and as conlined and obstructed by the related parts, such as the generator, distributor, carburetor, steering rod, chassis trame and other parts of the automobile.

Gf recent years it has been the practice to arrange the valve-stems, and p sh rods, with their cooperating parts in the interior of the permittingI access thereto through an opening or port normally covered by removable cover plates to lieep out [it lirst this opening was usually quite wide in a vertical direction, allowing relatively easy access, and the top of the crank-case and the adjacent portion of the cylinder block were such as to coinpletely close the top of the crank-case at all l points except for the passage oit the rods, and

increased, renderi the locking means, tor limiting the downward movement o'l' the spring retainers orr cups on the valve-stems under the thrust of their respective cooperatingl valve-springs, weie cross-pins or other elements requiring Y to be gripped and positively displaced by the mechanic. However, as time has passed the width of the access opening orport has decreased, wliile the number ot accessories has access to the valvestems, springs, retainers and locks progressively more diliicult,

Quite recently there has been a change whereby the push rods have been mounted in removable spiders, as illustrated in the patent to Horning, No. 1,604,412, granted Octobei' 26, 1926, the top or" the crank-case on either side of the spider being lett open, and it has been usual to continue the upper edge s of the opening down in a flange to still. turther narrow the access opening or port which is normally closed by a cover plate, so that when thesprings wi h their retainer cups are raised they are practically entirely behind the outer wall and thek locking means are adjacent the top edge oit trie opening and to the rear tnereot, so that in the usual multiple-cylinder engines access to either remove or replace said locking means is extremely dillicult.

ln a number of different engines of this type it is now usual to employ split conical locking means normally pressed radially inward toward each other by a cooperating conical face of the retainer to torce and leep said loclring'nieans in a groove or radially inward of an enlarged lower end of the valve-stein, so that the replacement of these locking devices, horse-shoes or semicircular cone members is a rather diillcult, trying and puzzling taslr and oiiten a number of attempts are necessary, and often in unsuccessiul attemptssaid locking meansor horseshoes .tall on an inaccessible part ot the pushi rod spider or securing bolts for the latter, and sometimes tall between the tace of said spiderand the opposed face 0i the engine block or crank-case down into the latter.

llhere a valve-stem having a cylindrical reducen portion corres'ionding to portion F with opposed upper and lower annular shoulms Y ending perpendicularly to the axis of veestem, a well known anc at present isively used construction is used, the 'ulty is even more pronounced, as it is csseitw to have the two cooperating elenot catch, but will be forced out by the re tai' fr and fall as the retainer-l) engages them, requiring repetition oi the effort.

The present invention has been developed with the above considerations in view, and has primarily for its objects to provide a tool for Aoroperly positioning said locking means lou or horseshoes to provide in a tool suitable to this purpose a pair of cooperating jaws for carrying and positioning respectively the cooperating members of a pair of horseshoes or locking elements, said jaws being so related to each other as to have swinging movement toward and from each other so that they may be spread to receive between them the valve-stem and may be closed' or moved toward each other to apply the respective locking horseshoes or elements to opposite sides of the valve-stein in said groove or reduced portion; to provide special simple yielding means for holding the respective locking horseshoes or elements in the re spective jaws of the tool preparatory to and during application to the valve-stem; to so construct and dispose the said yielding means that it will serve the dual function of hold ing the individual locking elements or horseshoes in the individual jaws of the tool and will tend to force said jaws toward each other in closed position; to provide a very light tool having spreading jaws in combination with means for forcing said toward each other whereby when the locking elements or horseshoesf7 as mounted in said jaws, have been positioned about and against the valvestem, the tool may be released and its resilient means will hold it in the arranged position in opposition to its weight as increased by the leverage of its outer portion, so that if a mechanic is interrupted in his task he may leave the tools as applied without having to do his work all over; to provide a onehand plier type tool for this purpose, so that the mechanic may employ one hand in operating the valve-spring lifter, while using his other hand te manipulate the tool of the present invention; as, for instance, where he is' using a valve-spring lifter not provided with a lock or catch; to provide a tool curved or deflected lengthwise so that it may be inserted in the upper portion of the access port or opening of the engine and then rocked, wiggled and/or twisted up and down, as may be necessary, without interference by striking against the upper edge wall of said opening; to provide a tool of few parts, simple in operation, cheap of manufacture and suitable to production on a large production basis by simple sheet metal stamping and assembling operations.

In this application we show and describe only the preferred embodiment of our invention simply by way of illustration of the practice thereof, as by law required. However, we are well aware thatour invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and that the various details thereof may be modified in a number of ways, all without departing from our said invention. Therefore, the drawing and description herein are to be considered as merely illustrative and not as exclusive.

ln the accompanying drawing Figure l represents a perspective view of a tool embodying our invention, with the locking means held therein, as used in applying said locking means to a valve-stem of an engine, the spring and retainer on said stem being shown raised by a valve-spring lifter and with a locking means catching shield positioned between the jaws of the lifter;

Figure 2, a perspective view of the tool by itself; 1

Figure 3, a top plan view of the tool with the jaws closed; v

Figure l, a fragmentary top plan view, showing the aws spread or open and with the respective locking means yieldingly held therein;

Figure 5, a side elevation ofthe tool on a reduced scale; l j

Figure i, a sectional view on the line 6--6`of Fig. 3, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Figure Y, a sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 8, an end elevation of one of the jaws, looking from line 8 8 of -lin the direction of the arrows.

ln the drawing, Figs. 2, 3, l, 6, 7 and S are made to full size scale from an actual full commercial tool; `lllig. 5 is made approximate ly half actual size, andin Fig. l there has been no attempt to stick exactly to actual scale or relative sise of tools, engine and parts thereof, but merely to illustrate the use of the tool in a general way.

Referring now in detail to the crawing, A designates the engine generally; B, the valve stems of the usual poppet-valves (not shown) thereof; C, the usual valve-springs; l), the valve-spring retainers, cups or washers; lil, the split cone or semi-circular composite cone-shape locking means normally received in the reduced portion li1 of the valve-stems ld with their cone faces presented upwardly and resting on the lower annular shoulder G of the valve-stem and normally so held by the cooperating inner lower conical face of the retainers, er cups or washers D; H, the pushrod spider; il, the push-rods; l, the adjustable push-rod heads; and la, the lock-nuts for the latter.

The parts specifically immediately above referred to are old and well known and are merely briefly described as above to aid in giving a clearer understanding` of the present invention. A s

Mdesignates generally avaive-spring li r with which the present invention is preferably used, and said valve-spring lifter may be constructed as illustrated in accordance with our pending application Serial No. BEL'Z'S,

filed January ll, i929, and lll designates generally a shield preferably employed during No. 1,776,159 granted to us on September 16, 1930.

The tool of the present invention is preferably a one-hand plier type of device, and more specifically is of that form of plier type tool wherein the operative arms or jaws move apart or spread as the handles or operating levers are moved toward each other as the mechanic closes his hand and wherein preferably some yielding` or resilient means is provided for forcing or urging the operative arms or aws toward each other to or toward closed position when the leverage or pressure on the handles or operative levers is relaxed. However, viewing our invention in one of its broader aspects, it is not essential that it shall be' embodied in a one-hand non-crossing lever form plier type tool, nor that it shall be a plier type tool, nor a one-hand type tool, nor that resilient or other self-acting means tending to force the operative jaws or arms toward each other shall be provided.

In the embodiment illustrated two preferably light thin sheet metal members of general U-shape in cro'ss section having their inner channel faces presented toward each other are provided with oppositely presented lugs 1 and 2, the lugs 2 of the one member ttino between the lugs 1 of the other member, and a pivot 3 passing through said lapped lugs 1 and 2 and preferably having its ends upset in usual known manner serves to pivo'tally connect the t vo members,a perforated supporting spacing disk or washer 4l preferably being interposed between the lugs 2.

Each of the body members so pivotally connected preferably consists of a handle or lever portion 5 extending rearward from the pivot 3 and an operative arm or jaw 6 eX- tending forward from said pivot-3.

Each of the body members is bent or deflected lengthwise to the same side and each is of the same contour so that the tool as a whole is curved, bent or deflected in an endwise direction so that its jaws may be in serted in the upper portion of the access port or opening of the engine and the tool may then be rocked, wiggled and/or twisted up and down, as may be necessary without interference by striking against the upper edge wall of said opening.

Each jaw has its inner edge portion cut out preferably in the form of a semi-circle or approximately of that shape, as at 7, adjacent its forward end, the cutouts or notches 7 of the respective jaws registering when the jaws are closed together define a. substantially circular or preferably substantially circular' opening to preferably freely accommodate a valvestem between them vwhen closed, said opening so defined preferably being of a diameter appreciably in excess of the diameter of the lower end portion or lower annular shoulder G of the valve-stem B, so that as the retainer D bears down on the locking elements E, and eventually on the tool as it strips the locking elements E therefrom, said tool will not be caught between the shoulder G and the lower ends of the locking elements or horseshoes E, but will be left free to be removed.

'lhe opposed inner edges of the jaws 6 will preferably be formed with preferably continuous flanges 8 from said notches 7 at diametrically 4opposite points of the opening defined by the jaws 6 when closed, said flanges 8 extending lengthwise of the jaws 6. The opposed inner faces of said flanges will preferably extend parallel to each other and preferably perpendicularly to the lower faces of the respective jaws 6. The upper faces of the jaws 6, at least adjacent the notches 7, will preferably extend in a common plane so as to provide flat supporting surfaces for the corresponding fiat straight lower faces of the respective locking elements E. The outer faces of said flanges 8, at least adjacent said notches 7, will preferably extend at an angle of'at least ninety degrees with relation to the adjacent portions of the upper faces of their respective jaws 6.

The function of these flanges 8 is simply to act as limiting stops for the locking elements E when inserted in the tool and as acted upon by the spring arms 9, and for that reason it is not essential that, these flanges or stops 8 shall be of the form shown, or of :flange form, and it will suffice if any means accomplishing the same function be provided.

ln the embodiment illustrated a relatively strong long U-shape or hairpin form spring is arranged with its closed end disposed about thev spacer or washer l and has arms 9 eX- tending forwardly therefrom, said arms 9 being bent abruptly toward each other against said washer 4l so as to extendl appreciably more than 180 degrees about said washer, whereby said spring will be securely maintained in place. The arms 9 of said spring extend in the respective jaws 6 lengthwise thereof and preferably engage some part of the respective flanges 8 thereof, or some definite part rigid with .the respective jaws 6 to force said jaws together to closed position.

Each arm 9 of saidv spring is bent so as to extend forwardly and upwardly on a gentle incline from a point to the rear of the respective notches forward, and is bowed or bent laterally from substantially the same point away from its respective flange 8 to its eXtrei-ne lateral point and is then bent back toward said flange 8 slightly more abruptly, this construction serving to maintain the forward part of the bowed portion of each spring arm 9 in contact with a .greater portion of the reduced diameter of the upper portion of the semi-conical locking element E held thereby.

Such formation of the spring arms 9 serves .to press the looking elements E in endwise leach other transversely of the tool and to torre them against the stops or Vflanges 8 and in a. direction at right angles thereto against the tops ot the respective aws G, so that the locking` elements E are held in proper relation to each other and so as to be properly presented to the valve-stem B.

The particular form of spring, Considering our invention in one loit its broader aspects, is not essential, nor is it essential that the one spring` shall perform the dual tune- Jtions oi holding' the looking; elements E in the jaws and of closing' the jaws, nor is it esential that self-acting means Jfor closing the jaws be provided.

The upper side or web ot the jaws G will preferably be eut away at a point adjacent 'the rear end ot the flanges 8 as illustrated so as not to interfere with the spring` arms 9 which are upwardly inclined 'forwardly trom about this point, and also tor the purpose of giving' are ssibility to the :'aprinp; arms 9 and taeilitating; the insertion of the looking; elements E However, the greater portion ot the bach or bridge will be lett at the outer edges in the torni ot braoine; 'flanges l0.

lt desired, and tor the purpose elt taeilitating the insertion of the looking elements E, the forward portion ot the 'flanges immediately to the rear ot the notehes 'ray have their upper edges out or `,Q'round away, as illustrated in perspective in Fig', 2.

ln use, the looking' elements l are inserted in the respective jaws G between` the spring1 arms 9 and the eooperatii 'flanges Sl with their ends enejapjngr the lai I es 5% on opposite sides et the noteh 7, and snpported by the upper faees ol the respect-ive jaws G, all as illustrated in l, and 4. T:lilith the elements E thus held by the iaws (i the liront end of the tool is inserted through the usual access opening' or port and between the j ews of' a valve-spring; litter, the jaws 6 beine` spread to straddle the Valve-stem l, when the grip on the handles or levers 5 is released to permit the jaws 6 to elose on the redueed portion F ol the valve, applying' the looking; elements E aga nst the opposite sides thereof. At th eje the Central vertical line of the elements ,lt will usually be disposed at an anale to the axis oie the partieular valvestem B, so thehandles 5 will need to be raised until the eomnion central line ot the elements E is parallel with the anis ot the particular val Xie-stem Ba n d the bottoms ot said elements E are parallel te, extend radially inward ot, and rest flatly on the upper face ot' lower annular shoulder G.

TW here opposed upper and lower annular shoulders similar to Gf are present the task is a little more exacting, as the elements E must fit between said opposed shoulders in order that they may move radially inward to the correct position.

llllhen said tool has been manipulated to correctly position the elements E, it may be released, it desired, and the spring Comprisino` the arms 9 will hold the jaws 6 together with sunfieient pressure to prevent their relative movementnnder the opposed weight and leverage of the tool. However, whether said tool be released or a grip thereon retained, the mechanic, after the proper positio ing' of the elements E, next in order operates the Vabre-spring; litter M to permit the des-Cent of the spring' retainer D under the p `re oiPA the spring' C, said retainer D receiving; the elements in its cooperating eene-shape recess or bore concentric with the valve-stein B, and tent s to force them radially toward each other, as well as endwise toward ane shoulder (l, in its desrent strikingl against the arms 9 et the sp and shoving' the .latter and the Ajaws 5 downward toward the push rod Y,l below the upper face of annular shoulder G, so stripping` theloolrinpj e trein the jaws 6 ol the tool and lements ll ,oroinog them firmly into their proper posiion to Cooperate with the valve-stem B ,nd retainer D.

The mechanic then presses the handles or lever 5 toward eaeh other to spread the jaws (l to perniit the withdrawal ot the jaws 6 treni about the 7altre-stem B.

(it course, it will happen sometimes that the elements are not properly positioned, or the reti' i l will be jjirematurely lowered, so

iforeinp; the elements E out of the aws (3 witlmuttheir beingv held between the retainer l) and stein B; and we, therefore, prefer to use the shield ll Vas av precautionary measure to oateh the elements should they he toreed from the jaws 6 and drop toward the posh-rod spiderv lt will be noted that the total Vertical width or rhirlrness oi" the jaws 6,Y the flanges 8 and spring' arms 9 is hardly more than the combined thielznoss of a thin sheet ot metal and :i small wire spring', not taking up much room and allowing' the parts to be inserted and adjusted and the retainer to be lowered to its normal position without bindingr or other interference.

l-lavin thus described our invention, what we claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

l. fr valve-stein looking-element inserting' tool omnprising,` ay pair ot' non-Crossing light thin channel-'form sheet metal members each comprising a pair of vertically registering laterally presented lugs, a handle portion eX- tending to the rear oli said lugs and a jaw ion extending torwardly trom said lugs, jaw portions having their opposed inner edges adjacent their trent ends notched out in registry to cooperate in defining be- 'bination with apivot-pin extending through all of said lugs and said block, and a hairpin form spring having a loop portion bent to embrace said block snugly for more than 180 to maintain said spring in propel' position and having arms respectively extending` lengthwise of the respective jaw portions and respectively engaging fixed parts carried by the respective jaw portions, said spring arms normally pressing toward each other to move said jaw portions to closed position, and each said spring arm being upwardlyand forwar ly inclined and bowed about said notches to engage the upwardly' inclined outer faces of the respective loc-lring elements to force rthem lengthwise of the jaw portions to proper position and to force them against the said stop means and also at right angles thereto against the vtop faces of said jaw portions respectively.

2. A valve-stem locking-element inserting tool comprising a pair of sheet metal members each comprising a pair of vertically registering laterally presented lugs, a handle port-ion extending Yto the rear of said lugs and aj aw portion extending forwardly from saidl lugs, said jaw portions having their opposed inner edges adjacentv their front ends notched out in registry to cooperate in defining between them, in closed position, an opening to receive the valve-stem, stop means carried by said jaw portions respectively to be engaged by the respective locking means, A`said lugs cf one member vbeing presented toward and straddling the lugs of the other member,v and a spacing reinforcing block interposed between the lugs of theV latter niember,rin combination with a pivotpin extending through all of said lugs and said block, and a 'spring engaging said block to maintain and spring in proper position and having ar vis respectively extending.

lengthwise of the respective jaw portions and respectively engaging'ixed parts carried by the respective jaw portions, said spring arms normally pressing toward each other to move said jaw portions to closed position, and each said spring arm being upwardly and forwardly inclined and bowed about said notches to engage the upwardly inclined outer faces of the respective locl ing elements to force them lengthwise of the jaw Aportions to proper position and to force them against said stop means.

A'. valve-stem locking-element inserting tool comprising a pair yof membersA each comprising a laterally presented lug, a handle respectively,

portion extending to the rear of said lug, and a jaw portion extending forwardly from said lug, said jaw portions having their opposed inner edges adjacent their front ends notched out in registry to cooperate in defining between them, in closed position, an opening to receive the valve-stem, stop means carried by said jaw portions respectively to be engaged by the respective locking means, said lugs overlapping, in combination with a pivotpin extending `through said overlapping lugs, and a spring extending about said pivot-pin and having arms respectively extending lengthwise of the respective aw portions and respectively engaging lixed parts carried by the respective jaw portions, said spring arms normally pressing toward each other to move said jaw portions to closed position, and each said spring arm being upwardly and forwardly inclined and bowed about said(- notches to engage the upwardly inclined` outer' faces of the respective locking elements to force them lengthwise of the aw portions to proper position and to force them against said stop means.

1l. A valve-stein locking-element inserting tool comprising a pair of non-crossing niembers each comprising a lug, a handle portion extending to the rear of said lug, and a jaw portion extending forwardly from said lug, said jaw portions having their opposed inner edges notched out in registry to cooperate in defining between them,-in closed position, an opening to receive the valve-stem, stop means carried by said jaw portions respectively to.

be engaged by the respective locking means, in combination with a pivot-pin'extending through said lugs, and spring means having arms respectively extending lengthwise of the respective j aw portions, each saidV spring arm being upwardly and forwardly inclined and bowed about said notches to'engage the upwardly inclined outer faces of the respective locking elements to force them lengthwise of the jaw portions to proper position and to force them against said stop means.

5. A valve-stem locking-element inserting tool comprising a pair of members each comprising a lug, a handle portion extending to the rear of said lug, and a jaw portion extending forwardly from said lug, said jaw portions being formed to cooperate in defining between them, in closed position, an opening to receive the valve-stem, stop means carried by said j aw portions respectively to be engaged by the respective locking` means, in 4combination with a pivot-pin extending through said lugs, and a spring extending about said pivot-pin vand having arms respectively extending lengthwise of the respective jaw portions normally pressing toward said stop means of said jaw portions and each said spring arm being upwardly and forwardly inclined and bowed about said notches to engage the upwardlyl inclined outer faces of the respective locking elements to force them against said stop means. j

6. A. valve-stem lowing-element inserting tool comprising a pair oi members each comprising a lug, a handle portion'extending to the rear of said lug anda jaw portion extending forwardly iron said lug, vsaid jaw portions 'being vori'ned to cooperate in deining between them, in closed position, an opening to receive the valve-stein, stop means carried .by said jaw portions respectively to be engaged by the respective locking means, in combination with a pivot-pin extending through said lugs, and a spring having arms respectively extending lengthwise of the respective jaw portions and respectively engaging fixed parts carried by the respective jaw portions, said spring arms normally pressing` toward each other to move said jaw portions to closed position, and each said spring arm being` formed to engage the upwardly inclined outer faces of the respective locking elements to force them against said stop means.

7. A valve-stem locking-element inserting tool comprising a pair ot members each comprising a lug, a handle portion extending the rear of said lug, and a jaw portion eX- tending forwardly from said lug, said jaw portions being formed to cooperate in defining between them, in closed position, an opening to receive the valve-stem, stop means carried by said jaw portions respectively to be engaged by the respective locking means, in -combination with a pivot-pin extending through said lugs, and a spring havin arms respectively extending lengthwise ofthe respective jaw portions normally pressing toward said stop means of said jaw portions respectively, and each said spring arm being formed to engage the upwardly inclined outer faces o'l the respective locking elements at a distance 'from the upper faces of the respective jaw portions to force said locli elements against said stop means.

8. A positioning tool comprising Aa pivot- .pin, and a pair of levers pivoted together by said pin and including handles lon one side oi' the pivot-pin and jaws on the opposite side of said pivot-pin arranged. to move away from each other as the handles are moved together, said jaws being formed to deiine an opening between themA when in closed position, in combination with stop means carried by said aws, and resilient means extending about said pivot-pin and engaging said jaws to Vforce them to closed position and adapted to press against said stop means and the upper faces of the respective aws the elements to be positioned, said handles being bent downward adjacent said pivot-pin and in the 'direction of the axis thereof.

9. A positioning tool comprising a pivotf pin, and a pair of levers pivoted together by said pin and including handles on one side of the pivot-pin and aws on the opposite side of said pivot-pin arranged to move away 'from each other as the handles are moved together', said aws being formed to deline an opening between them when in closed position, in combination with stop means carried bysaid jaws, and resilient means extending about said pivot pin and engaging said jaws to force them to closed position and adapted to press against said stop means the elements to be positioned, said handles being deflected adjacent said pivot pin.

1G. A positioning tool comprising a pivotpin, and a pair of levers pivoted together by said pin and including handles on one side of the pivot-pin and j aws on theopposite side ot' said pivot-pin arranged to move away from each other as the handles are moved ton'fxtla ev" opening between them when in closed position, in combination with stop means carried by said jaws, and resilient means engaging said jaws to torce them to closed position and adapted to press against said stop means the elements to be positioned.

ll. A positioning tool comprising a pivotpin, and a pair of levers Vpivoted together by said pin and including'handles on one side of the pivot-pin and jaws on the opposite side vpin, and a pair oia levers pivoted together by said pin and including handles on one side of tl e pivot-pin and jaws on theopposite side of said pivot-pin arranged to move away from each other as the handles are moved together, said jaws being formed to define an opening between them when inclosed position, in combination with stop means carried by said jaws, and resilient means engaging said jaws to force them to closed position and adapted to rpress against said stop means the elements to be positioned.`

13. A positioning tool comprising a pair ot jaws, and means for connecting said aws tor movement in thel same plane toward and from each other, said jaws being formed to delizie an opening between them when in closed position, in combination with stop means carried by said jaws, and yielding means for forcing said jaws toward each other to closed position and adapted to press against said stop means the elements to be positioned, said tool being` deflected in a plane perpendicular to said plane of movement of said jaws.

said jaws being formed to denne an 14. A positioning` tool comprising a pair of jaws, and means for connecting said aws for movement in the same piane toward and from each otheijsaid jaws 'oe g formed to define an opening' between tliein when in closed position, in combination with stop means carried by said jaws, and yielding means for forcing said anis toward eachv other to closed position and adopted to press ainst said stop means the elements to be 3% positioned.

i5. A positioning tool comprising a pair of jaws, and means for connecting said jaws for movement in the same plane toward and from each other, aid jaws being' formed to define an opening between them when in closed position, in combination with yielding means for forcingsaid j aivs toward each other to closed position and adapted to press against the upper faces of the respective jaws the elements to he positioned.

'16. A positioning tool cmnprisingg a pair of jaws, and means for connecting` said for movement in the same plane toward and from each other, said jaws being formed to define an opening between them When in closed position, in combination 'with yield-- ing moans canting` Withreference tothe upper faces of the respective jaws so as to press towards said face the elements to he positioned.

l?. n positioningl tool comprising; a pair of jaws, and means for coi-meeting said jaws for movement in Jthe same plane toward and from each other, said being; ed to define an opening between them when in closed position, in combination with means Gauting with reference 'to the upper faces of the respective so as to press towards said 'face the elements to loe positioned.

18. A tool for the purpose described. 4or similar purposes, comprising a pair of members pivoted together, a reversely bent spring` v having its bight portion near the pivot and its ieee.l

free ends near the free ends of thesaid meinhers, said spring` normally holding` the memhers tog-ether, each member having a notch with. the notches opposed to forman apertnre,ilanges on opposite sides of each notch, said spring' lie-ing formed so as to engagea lock blocl: between itself and the iianges, said tool being insertable over a stein so that the stein Vfits in the opposed notches with the lock blocks surrounding the stem.

i9. In a valve tool, a pair of handle levcrs-pivoted tfv'vetlier, alng on each lever to engage the face of 'naif of a split sleeve valve keeper adjacent one side thereof, a second lng; for engagine` said face adjacent 'the other side thereof and spring means to retain the faces of said keepers in engagement with said lugs.

20. ln a valve tool, a pair of pivote-d levers, a lng` on each lever to engage the face of half of a'split sleeve valve keeper adjacent one side thereof, a second lug for engaging said face adjacent the other side thereof and spring means to retain the faces of said keepers in engagement with said lugs.

2l. A positioning` tool comprising a pair of i vs mounted for movement in the same plane toward and from each other, a lug on each lever to engage the face of half of a split .sieeve Valve keeper adjacent one side thereef, means mounted on each lever and adapted to be engaged by the face of said keeper adjacent the other side thereof, and resilient means for retaining` said keeper in engagement rwith said lng` and means.

. testimony whereof, We have signed our naines to this specification at Lancaster, iennsylvania, this 22nd day of November,

HARRY W7. KUL?. MARTIN (i. DELLINGER.

llt; 

